Rope Drop or Late at Night? Or Both?

Tom P.

Tom P.

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I see lots of people here talk about wanting to be at the parks for rope drop. For us, however, that's never been that much of a priority. I have to get up really early for my job every day of a normal week, so I'm not that big on doing it on vacation. And neither are my wife and kids. For us, we tend to head to the parks a bit later.

OTOH, I love being at the parks really late at night. Something is just different walking around the Magic Kingdom at midnight. Even with little kids, I think I'd rather keep them up late and let them sleep in, than try to be up for rope drop each day. But, then again, from a young age I've always been a night owl by nature.

So which is it for you? Be there at the crack of dawn, or stay at the parks into the wee hours of the night? Or do you manage to do both? And why?
 
Disneydreamer23

Disneydreamer23

Well-Known Member
last year I missed rope drop by 3 minutes but what day I did stay until Late night was over which was 1 am. I was so tired the next day, but it was a blast and my 16 month old stayed up the whole time too!
 
mouse_luv

mouse_luv

Well-Known Member
We generally do both, alternate. We prefer though to do night time EMH, etc because for one, DBF has to get up early for work all the time and doesn't want to on vacation (can't say I blame him b/c I am not an early riser). Also, as you stated @Tom P. we also prefer the parks at night, such a different atmosphere.
 
blueboxdoctor

blueboxdoctor

Well-Known Member
I prefer waking up around 10, strolling down to get something to eat, taking the boat over to MK, walk around, go on a few rides, get something else to eat, hang out, do rides and the like, get more to eat (can you tell, I do enjoy taking breaks, that also include food), and then stay as late as it is open to. I much prefer night time at WDW. Everything has a really nice atmosphere to it, especially the area around Liberty Tree Tavern (and of course the other parks, specifically the World Showcase at night is really nice). I'd rather stay up all night instead of wake up early. And of course, late night ice cream.
 
JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
Both have their advantages and I do both. I much prefer the later hours though because of the lessening crowds and the feel of the parks at that time. But I get in early too. Every trip I say I'm going to sleep in some days, but I never manage to do it. When I'm at Disney I just cant sleep in... I'm too excited and want to get every minute in that I can...so its early to rise & late to bed. When I get home from the trip, I crash.
 
Tom

Tom

Beta Return
Tom P. said:
I see lots of people here talk about wanting to be at the parks for rope drop. For us, however, that's never been that much of a priority. I have to get up really early for my job every day of a normal week, so I'm not that big on doing it on vacation. And neither are my wife and kids. For us, we tend to head to the parks a bit later.

OTOH, I love being at the parks really late at night. Something is just different walking around the Magic Kingdom at midnight. Even with little kids, I think I'd rather keep them up late and let them sleep in, than try to be up for rope drop each day. But, then again, from a young age I've always been a night owl by nature.

So which is it for you? Be there at the crack of dawn, or stay at the parks into the wee hours of the night? Or do you manage to do both? And why?
Click to expand...

I'm exactly the same. I hate mornings, and I love night time - especially at the parks.
 
rsoxguy

rsoxguy

Well-Known Member
As this thread is purely dependent upon personal opinion, I'll add mine. Closing. The rope drop deal isn't worth much more to me than smaller crowds for a brief while. The closing is much more fun to me.
 
copcarguyp71

copcarguyp71

Well-Known Member
Rope drop has only ever seemed worth it at MK for us. The other parks are pretty ho-hum with regard to their rope drop festivities. But for late nights Epcot, MK or DHS are good although DHS comes in way last due to the low number of things to do but if you are a fan of RnR or ToT then well worth it plus all of the neon on the buildings provides a nice ambiance. We have been in MK at 1AM and it was a magical experience. Walked on whatever ride you pretty much wanted to and photo ops with almost nobody around.
 
amysue22

amysue22

Member
rope drop! I can get so many rides in, especially at MK, before crowds starts to build. I'm an early bird therefore I love going to bed early, I've tried to stay at parks late and I just can't do it :(
 
JasonDeyoung

JasonDeyoung

Well-Known Member
I do park opening till around noon or whenever and head out. I go back in the evening, I love the parks at night and will stay till close then
 
MinnieM123

MinnieM123

Premium Member
Early morning is always my preference, as I'm always up early, anyway. I will say, however, that the extra evening hours are also fun (just as long as you're not too tired at that point!), because it's so much cooler in the park at night, without the intense Florida sunshine.
 
DizneyPryncess

DizneyPryncess

Well-Known Member
Rope drop for me. I have 2 little ones who are up at the crack of dawn, so it just makes sense to head in. They're happiest in the morning hours so that makes it the most enjoyable time in the parks for us. Before kids, I was an open to close kind of girl. Or at least we'd go in sometime in the morning and stay until close.
 
Beastly74

Beastly74

Well-Known Member
My husband works nights so he is not used to getting up early so we prefer the nights. We especially love the rainy EMH nights when the park empties out. We just throw on our ponchos and have a blast :D. That being said on our most recent trip we made an effort to catch the opening show at the Magic Kingdom and we loved it! However, my husband needed to go back to the resort to have a nap later in the day...lol.
 
Victor Kelly

Victor Kelly

Well-Known Member
It is subjective as to which day it is. EMH mornings, we usually are there to eat and be in the park after opening. EMH nights, we prefer. We have been known to open and close a park.

In all honesty, we cannot stand rope drop at the Magic Kingdom, I personally hate the show. Or anywhere else for rope drop come to think of it. We are usually in the park like I said, for breakfast, or we stroll in just after rope drop.

No need to really do rope drop when you already have fast passes.
 
Mukta

Mukta

Well-Known Member
I don't have kids, I am a high energy person and I don't sleep a lot. That means I do RD every day, stay until closing and hop to any other park that is open. I don't head back to my hotel until every park is closed.
 
MarkTwain

MarkTwain

Well-Known Member
Would much rather stay til close... and then some (we're one of those that'll hop in the 45 minute line for Space Mountain line minutes before the park closes... sorry CMs).

The parks just come alive at night, and it's amazing to enjoy the beautiful nighttime atmosphere with the buildings lit up and without the blaring sun. Often it's much cooler and less crowded as well.

We're doing well if we're in by noon on most days. ;)
 

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